Lionel Messi retire from international football

Argentina player Lionel Messi don announce im retirement from di National Team afta dia World Cup outing.

Messi announce di retirement for im social media page wia e tell im fans say e pain am.

Di retirement dey come afta di Argentina forward, lose im papa wey be Jorge Messi at di age of 68.

"Afta dis time wey don pass since di final, tinking about am a lot, I wan inform evrione say I dey retire from di National Team."

Di eight-time Ballon d'Or winner say e write im retirement message on 21 July, two days afta Argentina lose to Spain for 2026 World Cup final.

Messi, wey plays for club side Inter Miami, add say: "Today, afta wetin happun wit my dad, I dey even more convinced dan bifor."

Messi wit im three goals for di group stage of di World Cup against Algeria become di oldest player wey score hattrick for di tournament history.

Messi overtake Cristiano Ronaldo (33 years) wen im score hattrick against Spain for 2018.

Di 39-year-old, wey captain Argentina to World Cup glory for Qatar in 2022, don score 125 goals for 207 appearances, to make am di kontri all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

For di statement on Instagram, Messi say e don give everytin to di national side but now e get "noting left to give".

E add say: "Time dey running short, chapters come to close, and dis na one dat hurt me deeply.

"I love, I don love, and go always love to be part of di national team.

"I don give it am my all, I get notin left to give, and besides, e get some really great young players coming through behind me wey deserve dia chance."

Earlier for August, Messi say e dey consider im future for football afta death of im father, afta long illness.

Born in Argentina but Lionel Messi spend most part of im adulthood for Catalonia, Spain.

Messi join Barcelona academy for age 13.

Im don play 778 games for di club — no player get dis record number of appearances for Barca.

Im don score 672 goals - dis na anoda record.

Im don win 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophy.

Lionel Messi don win Ballon D'or (World best footballer) six times.

Lionel Messi bin break one of Pele record after im score goal number 644 for Barcelona during im team victory over Real Valladolid for 2020.

Pele, di football legend, bin hold di record of player wey score di most goals for one club, wit im 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian club Santos between 1956 and 1974.

Messi, score im first Barca goal for 2005 and since then im don win 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with di Spanish club.

Messi career go continue for club level wit Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, wia e get contract wey dey run to di end of di 2028 season.

Wen Messi first paly for Argentina for 2005, na 63 minutes dem bring am come against Hungary.

But one minute later, dem give Messi red card afta e swing im hand and di elbow touch one of di Hungarian defenders.

Despite di tough start on di international stage, Messi fight hard to become one of di all-time greatest player as e win di World Cup and two Copa America titles wit Argentina.

Messi first retire from international football for 2016 bifor e latyer reverse im decision, till 2026 wey e finally take dat decision.

Messi na di second-highest goalscorer for World Cup history, wit 21 goals, just behind France Kylian Mbappe wey get 22.

Messi na also di second highest in goals for all internationals 125, just behind im great contemporary and rival, Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo wey get 146.

Di 39 years old Argentine say e dey painful to retire from di national team but say di time don reach.